Venetian blind



Oct. 9, 1951 J R BRQWN 2,570,199

VENETIAN BLIND Filed D60. 28, 1945 if; :2. g

vfames .5. 57050 4 M M a g g [for/rays Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND "James R. Brown, Houston, Tex.

Application December 28, 1945, Serial No. 637,554 3 Claims. (01. 160-119) This invention relates toan improved Venetian blind.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved Venetian blind characterized by two sections, either of which may be raised. or lowered. independently of the other, or the slats of which may be individually varied as desired, in such manner that the lower blind may be closed, while the upper is retained open for air and ventilation, or vice versa, as may be desired.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device whereby the means for closing and lowering the upper and lower sets of slats, respectively, are located at a convenient point adjacent the center of the device,

the arrangement being such as to obviate the necessity of fumbling with a plurality of cords located at a common point when such operation is desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein the operating cords thereof extend through slotted apertures in the ends of the slats, whereby the slats may be individually removed completely from the device for cleaning or painting, replacement or other purposes as may be desired.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front plan view of one form of blind construction embodying features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially alon the line 22 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view take substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure l, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l-4 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

With continued reference to the drawing, the improved Venetian blind assembly, as shown in elevation in Figure 1, comprises an upper portion ll and a lower portion l8 each of which covers substantially one-half of a window opening.

Each portion is separately adjustable both as to the angular position of its slats and the extent of the window opening covered thereby, and each portion or section of the blind has its own individual adjusting means. i The lower portion 18 has an upper termina slat mounted on fixed supports near the vertical center of the window opening and a lower ter-' minal slat, and intermediate slats which may be raised and lowered relative to the upper terminal slat to vary the extent of the window opening covered by the lower section I8 while the upper blind section I! has a lower terminal slat mounted on fixed supports near the vertical center of the window opening, spaced from and substantially parallel to the upper terminal slat of the lower portion 18, and an upper terminal slat and intermediate slats which may be raised and lowered relative to the lower terminal slat to vary the extent of the upper portion of the window openin covered by the upper blind sec tion H.

The upper blind section ll has means operative to guide the slats and hold them in proper operative position relative to the window opening and similar guide means may be provided for the lower section 18, if desired. The two terminal slats near the vertical center of the window opening are preferably covered on both sides by a pair of spaced-apart. substantially parallel cove-r plates extending transversely of the window opening at the mid-height location thereof.

In order to provide a closer fit of the blind with the window opening the blind sections I1 and (8 are preferably mounted in a common rectangular frame, generally indicated at H), which closely fits the window opening and surrounds the blind sections, but this frame may be omitted, if desired, and the upper and lower sections of the blind mounted directly in the window opening.

In the illustrated embodiment, the frame I 0 includes a hollow cornice or canopy ll having depending end walls [2 and side walls l3, and side plates l4 respectivelysecured at their upper ends to the end walls of-the cornice and at their bottom ends to the corresponding ends of a base sill or plate l5.

Where the frame I0 is used, the cover plates l6 are secured at their ends to corresponding edges of the vertical side plates of the frame in position to overlie the terminal slats or the two blind sections located near the mid-height portion of the frame. Each of the blind sections has a pair of terminal slats between which is a plurality of intermediate slats I 9, each having a recess 3 in each end thereof. The slats of each section are connected together by the conventional web ladders 2I which hold the slats in properly spaced, parallel position when the blind sections are extended.

The lower terminal slat I9a of the upper blind section I! is pivotally secured at its ends to the frame side plates I4 by a suitable mounting means such as. pivot pins one of which is indicated at 22. A knob 23 is positioned substantially adjacent the closure member I6 at approximately the midpoint of the frame and operatively connected to the terminal slat I9a so that rotation thereof will turn the terminal slat about the axis of the mounting pins to change the angular relationship of all the slats in the section by relatively moving the opposite sides of the tapes 2| in the conventional manner.

Guide cords 24 connected at their lower ends 7 to terminal slat I9a extend through the recesses 20 in the ends of the slats and over pulleys within the cornice I I to a common juncture with a tension spring 26 centrally positioned above the uppermost slat. These guide cords, being constantly under tension, serve to maintain the slats of the upper blind section in operative position in the upper portion of the window opening or frame ID.-

A pair of liftin cords 30 extend over pulleys 3I also suspended in the cornice II, one at-each end thereof, and are attached at their ends to the opposite end portions of the movable upper terminal slat I90 of the upper blind section. The cords 30 are effective to raise and lower the'upper terminal slat and the intermediate slats. relative to the lower terminal slat I9a.

Obviously, a pull on the extremities of the elevating cords will raise the blind in the conventional manner, while adjustment of the knob 23 will vary the position of the slats. The upper terminal-slat I9b of the lower blind section It is pivotally secured at its ends to the frame side plates I4 by suitable mounting means, such as pivot pins 220.. A knob 23a is positioned adjacent the closure member I 6 at approximately the midpoint of the frame and operatively connected to the upper terminal slat I91), so that rotation thereof will turn the terminal slat about the axis of the mounting pins 22a. to change the angular relationship of all the slats in the lower blind section by relatively moving the opposite sides of the tapes in the conventional manner.

The lower section I8 is raised and lowered by a pair of lifting cords 33 which extend over pulleys 32 suspended below the lower terminal slat I9 of the upper section I! between the cover plates I6. The cords 33 each extend downwardly from the respective pulleys 32 through the end recesses 20 in the intermediate slats of the lower section I8 andare connected at their lower ends, one to each end portion of the lower terminal slat I9d of the lower section I8. With the abovedescribed arrangement, the pair of cover plates IB constitute, in effect, a second cornice or canopy disposed below the cornice I I and concealing the pulleys 32 and any mechanism connecting the knob 23a with the upper terminal slat ISb,

as well as the two adjacent pivotally mounted terminal slats of the two blind sections.

The lowermost slat I9d of the section I8 is provided at its extremities with pins 35 adapted when the blind is in lowered position to be engaged by hooks 36 secured in any desired manner, as by pins or nails 31, to the base I5, thus insuring that when the blind is in-lowered position 4 it will be securely held in such position regardless of any disturbance occasioned by wind or the like.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved Venetian blind structure characterized by versatility and adaptability of adjustment and including two sections which may be independently raised or lowered, or wherein the slats may be readily adjusted. It will also be seen that by virtue of the slotted apertures 20 at the ends of the slats, any individual slat may be readily disassociated from its associated tape 2I and removed from the device fOr cleaning, painting or other purpose.

It will also be seen that there is herein provided an improved Venetian blind structure which 7 accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made. in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim:

' 1. A Venetian blind assembly comprising a rectangular frame adapted to fit into a window opening, anupper and a lower blind section disposed in said frame respectively above and below the mid-height location of the latter and effective when extended to completely cover the area withinsaid frame, each 'of said sections having an upper and a lower terminal slat, a plurality of intermediate slats disposed between said terminal slats and web ladders extending between said terminal slats and engaging said intermediate slats to hold said slats in operative assembly and tilt the intermediate slats upon tilting of the terminal slats when the blinds are extended, means pivotally connecting the lower terminal slat of said upper section and the upper terminal slat of said lower section to said frame with said lower and upper terminal slats extending transversely of the frame at the mid-height location of the latter and adjacent to each other, a plate extending transversely of the frame at the midheight location thereof and covering the edges of the'pivotally mounted terminal slats, and lifting cords supported on said frame at the upper end and at the mid-height location thereof and respectively connected to the upper terminal slat of said upper section and to the lower terminal slat of said lower section for independently raising and lowering said sections.

2. A Venetian blind assembly comprising a rectangular frame adapted to fit into a window opening, an upper and a lower blind section disposed in said frame respectively above and below the mid-height location of the latter and effective when extended to completely cover the area withinsaid frame, each of said sections having an upper and a lower terminal slat, a plurality of intermediate slats disposed between said terminal slats and web ladders extending between said terminal slats and engaging said intermediate slats to hold said slats in operative assembly and tilt the intermediate slats upon tilting of the terminal slats when the blinds are extended, means pivotally connecting the lower terminal slat of said upper section and the upper terminal slat of said lower section to said frame with said lower and upper terminal slats extending-transversely of the frame at the midheight location of the latter and adjacent to each other, a plate extending transversely of the frame at the mid-height location thereof and covering the edges of the pivotally mounted terminal slats, lifting cords supported on said frame at the upper end and at the mid-height location thereof and respectively connected to the upper terminal slat of said upper section and to the lower terminal slat of said lower section for independently raising and lowering said sections, and slat tilting means carried by said frame adjacent the mid-height location of the latter and connected respectively to the lower terminal slat of said upper section and the upper terminal slat of said lower section for independently tilting the slats of said sections.

3. A Venetian blind assembly comprising a rectangular frame adapted to fit into a window opening, an upper and a lower blind section disposed in said frame respectively above and below the mid-height location of the latter and effective when extended to completely cover the area within said frame, each of said sections having an upper and a lower terminal slat, a plurality of intermediate slats disposed between said terminal slats and web ladders extending between said terminal slats and engaging said intermediate slats to hold said slats in operative assembly and tilt the intermediate slats upon tilting of the terminal slats when the blinds are extended, means pivotally connecting the lower terminal slat of said upper section and the upper terminal slat of said lower section to said frame with said lower and upper terminal slats extending transversely of the frame at the midhelght location of the latter and adjacent to each other, a plate extending transversely of the frame at the mid-height location thereof and covering the edges of the pivotally mounted terminal slats, lifting cords supported on said frame at the upper end and at the mid-height location thereof and respectively connected to the upper terminal slat of said upper section and to the lower terminal slat of said lower section for independently raising and lowering said sections, slat tilting means carried by said frame adjacent the mid-height location of the latter and connected respectively to the lower terminal slat of said upper section and the upper terminal slat of said lower section for independently tilting the slats of said sections, and guide means for said upper section comprising cords extending between the lower terminal slat of said upper section and the top of said frame at respectively opposite sides of the latter and slidably engaging the ends of the intermediate slats of said upper section, and a spring connecting the ends of said cords at the top of said frame to maintain said cords under tension.

JAMES R. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 168,221 Bryan Sept. 28, 1875 340,960 Stevens Apr. 27, 1886 1,726,273 Merkstroth Aug. 27, 1929 2,075,462 Parmenter Mar. 30, 1937 2,237,539 Adams Apr. 8, 1941 2,292,338 Levy Aug. 4, 1942 2,324,536 Pratt July 20, 1943 

